>You look up from your Ponetendo Flip screen to see your sister looking down at you.
"Been ready" you give a frustrated response and follow it up with a small grunt as you squirm in place to get up from the bookbag seat you'd made for yourself using your and Chrssy's bags.
>You hear a giggle followed by Chrissy's voice "Oh come on, we even ended early tonight" she says as her hand enters your field of view.
"Yeah yeah..." you gripe while rolling your eyes.
>You take it and lean into the pull as she brings you up to your feet.
>What you don't account for is her continuing to pull you as you stumble and fall forward into her.
>She envelopes your head and upper back with her arms, hugging you close to her chest.
"Argh! Lemme go you're all sweaty!" You whine as you try to pull back from her.
>Her sour floral scent fills your nostrils as you struggle against her embrace.
>She sways you from side to side only for a moment before you manage to break free and stumble back a few steps.
>"That's what you get for giving your sis the sass" she says goadingly while you spit and wipe your face with your shirt.
>You feel a gentle ruffle of your hair while you rub your eyes, "Thanks for coming with me though, 'Non" Chrissy says.
>It takes you a second to put your console and portable charger away but you sling your bag over your shoulders and look up to find your sister is gone.
>Glancing around you spot her near the exit talking to some of the other crew.
>Chrissy's voice is the first to reach your ears as you approach the exiting crowd "-Yeah, I think we'll definitely get it in the next rehearsal!"
>"No doubt, after all, you have your number one fan here to support you" Casting Call says as she turns her eyes towards you and shoots you a wink.
>You feel a flush on your cheeks as you turn your head away.

>"Yeah!" you hear your sister say as she wraps an arm around your chest and slides you in beside her, "Maybe he'll actually look up from his Flip next time" she says teasingly.
>Casting giggles cutely, some of her shoulder length hair slips down over her face.
>She gracefully slides it back while looking towards you again.
>Her lips curl into a warm smile before she speaks, "You know, Anon, I bet you've got some decent chops if your sister is anything to go by. Have you given any more thought to joining the Junior Performers?"
>Casting puts a hand on her hip and tilts her head quizzically at you, "We're about to start a new play that I think you'd be perfect for-"
>Your eyes are focused on her hips too long to register what she said and before you can actually respond, Chrissy steps in front of you slightly and answers for you, "We uh, really can't afford another registration unfortunately."
>Casting seemingly blinks to attention as if she had forgotten Chrissy was with you, "W-well, if that's the case I certainly wouldn't mind waving the fees. You..." and she takes hold of your sister's shoulders for emphasis, "are an absolute star!"
>Her head tilts to look over Chrissy and locks her eyes on you.
>There's an intensity to them that makes the breath in your throat catch, "-And to see what young Anon here is capable of is worth the cost I thi-"
>"Well we'll think about it! Oh boy look at the time, we gotta scoot!" Chrissy blurts out, cutting off Casting's pitch.
>She takes hold of your backpack strap and tugs you along.
>Casting Call curls her pointer finger at you as she usually does when saying goodbye.
>You turn your attention forward before you risk tripping on your own feet.
"Hey, if she said she'd waive the fees then why can't I just join? I have to be here anyway for you to watch me." 

>Chrissy lets out a tsk as she slows her pace and lets you go, "Yeah, keyword being 'watch' there my dude. If you're off with the juniors then who knows what kind of trouble you're getting into."
>You roll your eyes.
"Trouble? Here?" You extend your arms and spin around the open plaza to enunciate your point.
>"Yeah, even here. Trust me Drama kids will find a way..." she says, following it up with a chuckle.
"Aren't you the one who's always calling me a goody two-shoes? Shouldn't that be more of a reason to join then?"
>Chrissy slips behind you and wraps her arms around your chest, pulling you back so that she can nuzzle the top of your head with her chin, "That's more of a reason NOT to join, after all I love that my little bro always has on his goody two-shoes" she says through babytalk.
>You grunt as you break her grasp and push away from her.
>"Besides, Mom would flip if you turn out as bad as I did. I already have a hard enough time convincing her to let you come with me to rehearsals."
>You huff but she does have a point.
>Your options are go with Chrissy or stay at home and do nothing.
>At least by going with Chrissy you get to stay out kind of late and sometimes one of the performers has to do a quick change behind the stage...
>The big clock in the plaza happens to enter your field of view as you two walk by it.
"Oh wow, you guys DID get out early."
>"Yeah, First and Understudy both couldn't make it tonight so there wasn't really a whole lot we could do. Sucks because I was really hoping to do the unmasking scene tonight..." she grumbles.
"Unmasking? Oh! You mean the 'you don't belong in this world!' part?" you say, slipping into the voice as you repeat the line.
>Chrissy stops walking with you which makes you stop once you realize the stopped.
>You turn your head to see her standing there looking dumbfounded.
"What?"
>"That was..." she shakes her head out of her stupor, "Sorry, I just didn't think you were paying any attention to the show."

>You beam with pride at having shocked her like that.
"I mean I usually don't, but this one is kind of cool. It's like a game I played once, especially the part that First String plays, he's just like the guy you play as in-"
>"Blah blah, nerd blah, do you remember anymore?"
>You think on it for a moment.
"Uhhh, maybe?"
>Before you can think on it further your sister bolts towards the nearby gazebo and steps onto it before spinning around and holding up an imaginary goblet in her hand, "To what do I owe the pleasure of your... unannounced arrival?" she says cooly, just like she's rehearsed.
>You take her cue and race up to where she is flipping on your hood as you place one foot up and point an imaginary sword at her, "No, I won't hear another word from you. Die Monster! You don't belong in this world!"
>You flourish your threat by using your other hand to flap your imaginary cape, just like you'd seen First String do.
>It's here that you notice something you don't think you ever noticed before.
>Chrissy's eyes.
>They're green just like yours, something you both take after dad, but as soon as you utter your line it's like something changed about her eyes.
>They look so cold and unfamiliar.
>Her lips curl into a wicked sneer and the flash of her white teeth against the shadow of the gazebo sends a chill down your spine as she slowly paces towards you.
>You feel your legs go weak and your blood runs cold in your veins.
>"It wasn't my choice to come here..." she coos, but you don't feel yourself any more at easy, the opposite.
>"It was you humans who... desired me... so greatly that I was called. But you knew that, didn't you?" she says as her lips curl into a coy sneer.
>You grit your teeth and spring yourself onto the gazebo with your foot that was still on the ground, you thrust your imaginary blade but strike at nothing as your attack is sidestepped.
"Liar! You steal men's hearts and make them your slaves!" you bark as you spin around to face her again. 

>She smiles down at you.
>She walks closer towards you.
>Step by step.
>Close enough that she pierces herself on what would be the tip of your blade without reacting as she closes in on you.
>It's all you can do to remain standing as you find yourself lost in her powerful gaze.
>"You're right... but I did not take yours, did I?"
>She places her palm on your cheek, the tip of her thumb is pushing against the rim of your hood.
>"That's why you wear the mask isn't it?"
>Her fingers feel cool against your face which you now realize is burning hot.
"S-stop... don't" you whisper back.
>She coos at your plea, her slender finger traces along the bridge of your nose, playing with the area that a mask would be at, "You hide yourself, but from whom? Your men, dead behind me? Perhaps your so-called beloved, waiting for you to return?" 
>Your sister chuckles darkly, "Certainly, you didn't expect this bit of fabric to fool me. I know your true feelings. I AM your true feelings..."
>Her other hand rests on your chest, she presses her palm firmly into you while her fingers slowly spread out.
>"So then, it must be yourself." she says with a confident smirk, "You gave in to temptation..." she says while slowly raising your hood.
>"You followed your desire..." she says as she leans in closer.
>"And where did it lead you?"
>You feel yourself drowning in her gaze.
>Her breaths feel warm on your hot skin.
>She lets your hood fall against your back, "Here. To me~" she whispers.
>"BRAVO!" you hear followed by what sounds like thunderous clapping.
>Chrissy jumps and releases you in her shock..
>You feel like your heart has jumped out of your chest and even after turning to see Casting standing past the gazebo looking in it's still pounding heavily and your breath hasn't caught back up.
>"Whoa, what the actual hell Cass?!" Chrysalis barks in her direction.
>"Well I was on my way to go get a smoothie before going home and I thought I heard voices coming from this way."

>Chrissy starts to respond but only manages to let out a huff of breath.
>"Imagine my surprise to see Anonymous not only delivering but PERFORMING!" she says following it with a giddy squee, "I absolutely will not take no for an answer now, and forget the junior performers. Anonymous, you're heading straight to the big leagues!"
>Your eyes go wide at the same time that Chrissy's jaw drops, "Wha- n-no!"
>"Oh relax, he's still a little rough and I don't want him curtains up just yet. He can be Understudy's understudy. But c'mon, you can't tell me that hearing his little 's-stop don't!’ didn't yank on your heartstrings?"
>Chrissy stomps and tilts her head down, she pinches she bridge of her nose as she lets out a sigh.
>"What do you say, Anon? Beats sitting in the corner all night eh?" Casting says to you while wiggling her eyebrows enticingly.
>Watching them argue gave you enough time to settle down from before.
"If I'm not with juniors then you can still keep an eye on me right, Chrissy?"
>"W-well yeah but-"
>"Say you're in and I'll treat you to a smoothie~" Casting sing-songs while you and Chrissy discuss.
>You can't help but grin at the promise of a free smoothie.
"I'm in!"
>"Yes!" Casting cheers as she does a single fist pump.

>You make your way to your room and shut the door behind you.
>You set down the mostly finished smoothie cup on your desk as you continue walking to your bed and flop into it facedown.
>Why did Casting, of all people, happen to be there!
>You've seen the way she looks at him, talks to him...
>Not only her either, Foley is just as big a nerd as he is.
>Spotlight tries to get him to help her out up on the rafters.
>You know what they're like, what all of them are like.
>Bunch of sluts who'd eat up your little brother.
>Mom already rides you hard enough as it is.
>Word spreads fast in a small town like this and if any word got out about Anon it'd probably be the last straw.

>You should've just said no to Casting like you've been doing.
>But that look on his face...
>Maybe it was just the promise of a smoothie but you couldn't do anything that'd take that smile off his face.
>You roll over onto your back and stare up at the ceiling.
>Your heart thumps in your chest as you think back to when you were holding him by his chest and face.
>Looking down into his captivated eyes illuminated only by distant lamplight.
>Your fingers tingle right in the same spots that they touched his warm skin.
>A sigh escapes your lips as you hug one of your pillows close to your chest.
>You bury your face into the pillow.
>"-you can still keep an eye on me right, Chrissy?" his words echo in your head through the darkness.
"Always, Anonymous. Always..." you whisper to yourself as you drift off to sleep.